This October, Melbourne will play host to one of the World’s greatest ballet companies when The Stuttgart Ballet returns to Australia for the first time in more than four decades.
Presented by The Australian Ballet, the internationally acclaimed German company will perform an exclusive Melbourne season of Marcia Haydée’s widely celebrated production of The Sleeping Beauty at the Regent Theatre from 9-18 October 2026.
A timeless fairytale comes to life through The Stuttgart Ballet’s renowned artistic excellence, breathtaking dancing, lavish costumes and opulent stage designs by acclaimed designer Jürgen Rose, whose striking visual world has become inseparable from Haydée’s celebrated interpretation. The production offers a magical theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.
Adding to the spectacle is Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score, with performances conducted by The Australian Ballet’s Music Director Jonathan Lo, following previous guest conducting engagements with The Stuttgart Ballet. The season will also welcome The Stuttgart Ballet’s Music Director Wolfgang Heinz, bringing together artistic talent from both Australia and Germany.
The Stuttgart Ballet is recognised as one of the world’s leading ballet companies and holds a unique place in The Australian Ballet’s history. Under the leadership of legendary choreographer John Cranko, the company transformed narrative ballet, with acclaimed productions including Romeo and Juliet, Onegin and The Taming of the Shrew becoming beloved additions to The Australian Ballet’s repertoire and continuing to influence ballet companies around the world.
In one of the largest international ballet tours to visit Melbourne in recent years, more than 130 dancers and touring staff will travel over 16,000 kilometres from Germany to Australia. The production will arrive with over 300 costumes, 200 pairs of pointe shoes and an extensive collection of sets and production elements, transforming the Regent Theatre into a fairytale kingdom.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg said: “The Sleeping Beauty represents everything audiences cherish about classical ballet, beautiful storytelling, extraordinary dancing and a sense of wonder that transcends generations. With its magnificent designs, glorious Tchaikovsky score and exquisite dancing, it’s the kind of production that reminds us why this ballet has captivated audiences for more than a century.”
“We are delighted to welcome The Stuttgart Ballet to Melbourne and share this remarkable production with Australian audiences. For everyone who was captivated by John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet earlier this year, The Sleeping Beauty is another wonderful opportunity to experience the artistry and heritage of this extraordinary company. It’s a rare privilege to present The Stuttgart Ballet in Australia and I know Melbourne audiences will embrace this extraordinary production,” Hallberg added.
Premiering in Stuttgart in 1987, Marcia Haydée’s The Sleeping Beauty has captivated international audiences for almost four decades. Inspired by Marius Petipa’s 1890 classic, the production brings the beloved fairytale to life through vivid storytelling, magnificent court scenes and dazzling ensemble dancing, creating a magical theatrical experience for lifelong ballet lovers and families discovering the artform together.
Its exclusive Melbourne season gives Australian audiences the rare opportunity to experience a production that has become a defining work of one of Europe’s most celebrated ballet companies, without travelling overseas.
At the heart of Haydée’s interpretation is the dramatic battle between the wicked Carabosse and the benevolent Lilac Fairy, creating a compelling struggle between darkness and light that has become one of the production’s defining features.
The Stuttgart Ballet’s Artistic Director Tamas Detrich said: “We are delighted to be returning to Australia and sharing Marcia Haydée’s The Sleeping Beauty with Melbourne audiences. This production has been cherished by generations of Stuttgart audiences and remains one of the defining works in our repertoire.”
“As we prepare to bring the production to the Regent Theatre, our dancers, artistic team and technical staff are excited to share a work that embodies the beauty, elegance and storytelling tradition at the heart of classical ballet. We look forward to introducing Melbourne audiences to this special production,” Detrich added.
Founded on a ballet tradition dating back more than 300 years, The Stuttgart Ballet is internationally acclaimed for its artistic excellence. Its modern international reputation was shaped by John Cranko, who was appointed Ballet Director in 1961 and transformed the company into a global artistic force.
For tickets and more information visit www.theaustralianballet.com.au.
